Inside China’s new COMAC C909 flying eye hospital and how it differs from Orbis
December 11, 2025
China has developed its own domestic COMAC C909 regional airliner-based flying eye hospital. While similar in some respects to Orbis’ famous flying hospital, it also differs in significant ways.
China’s home-grown C909 flying hospital
The English-language Chinese newspaper, China Daily, reported that a new COMAC C909 (formerly ARJ21) regional airliner has developed its first fully domestically produced flying eye hospital.
Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre terms the aircraft “China’s first fully self-developed and self-operated ‘flying eye hospital’ for clinical services.” The interior is ‘meticulously designed’ according to surgery room standards, and is equipped with high-definition microscopes, sterile operating tables, and other equipment.
It said the “air-space-land-sea integrated eye health service system would help to break down geographical barriers.” This would allow services to patients in remote areas, and it would strengthen the “resilience and equity” of the public health system.
Li Qiang, Party secretary of Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, stated that the flying ophthalmic hospital is a concrete measure taken by his center to serve the Healthy China initiative.
The COMAC C909 is called “Guang Ming Zhi Yi” or “Wings of Light” in English. China’s COMAC and China Flying Dragon General Aviation Co. also collaborated in producing the flying hospital.
Inaugural operation of the flying eye-hospital
The first official operation for the new flying eye hospital took place on Wednesday, validating the “clinical feasibility… in a real aviation environment.”
According to the article, the first patient called Zhang, received an eye operation to restore her clear vision. This was performed by Liang Lingyi, the deputy director of the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center.
The procedure only took a few minutes and was carried out on the apron of Zhengzhou Xinxheng Airport.
Zhang is from a remote area in the central Henan province and is quoted as saying, “I never imagined I could have a surgery on a plane close to home—no need to travel long distances. And the doctors are so skilled.” Zhang repeatedly thanked the medical staff for restoring her clear vision.
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China’s answer to the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital
Perhaps the most famous flying eye hospital is the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, first launched in 1982. The first Orbis aircraft was a donated Douglas DC-8 from United Airlines, and it became the world’s first fully equipped teaching eye hospital.
In 1992, Orbis switched to a donated DC-10 widebody aircraft as its second-generation flying eye hospital, before FedEx donated the MD-10 that it uses now. That aircraft has been in use since 2016.
The MD-10 can travel almost twice as far as its predecessor. Orbis operates globally, flying to places like Bangladesh.
One seeming difference between Orbis and the new Chinese C909 flying hospital is that Orbis is focused on training. It says that it provides a space to “train doctors, nurses, biomedical technicians, and other eye care professionals.” Although it also conducts surgeries onboard.
The #FlyingEyeHospital has touched down in Chattogram, Bangladesh for a two-week ophthalmic training project. After unpacking the plane and transforming into hospital mode, week one of simulation training is underway.
— Orbis International (@OrbisIntl) November 24, 2024
Read more 👇https://t.co/EGzYSyUGkq
Another notable difference is that Orbis is operating an ancient 52.7-year-old aircraft that is one of the last MD-10 trijets still operating. The COMAC C909, on the other hand, is new, with the type only entering service in 2016.
The age of the Orbis aircraft came into play as the FAA grounded all DC-10/MD-10 aircraft in the wake of the MD-11 (UPS Airlines Flight 2975) crash at Louisville in November. The Orbis aircraft was undergoing maintenance at the time, and it is unclear when or if the aircraft will return to service.
Another difference is that the Orbis MD-10 is a widebody airliner, while the C909 is a regional jet. Both are likely well-suited to their respective roles.
The larger MD-10 has a global mission focused on training local doctors, while the C909 has a range of around 3,700 kilometres and is focused on being a domestic flying hospital within China.
Featured Image: COMAC
